Kayak Travels: The State of Iowa
I was thinking of taking a kayak to Iowa sometime this summer and fishing with a friend of mine so I researched registration laws for the state. I was unable to find any information on the website so I emailed, and eventually talked on the phone with someone from the DNR.
I talked with Marj from the Iowa State DNR and she informs me that Iowa will honor any current registration from another state. However, since I’m from Texas and don’t need (or have) a registration, I would be required to register the kayak in Iowa and permanently attach registration numbers to my hull.
If you choose to register a kayak that you built yourself you will need some form of receipt for the materials that you put into the boat. If you bought the kayak you will need the original bill of sale and an MSO (manufacturer statement of origin). I suspect that they won’t validate any of these documents so buy a 2×4 at Home Depot and stick the receipt in your glove box. You’ll also have to find the county recorder office and get there during the week since they aren’t open on weekends or evenings.
If your kayak is 13 feet or less in length then you’re exempt from registration and don’t have to jump through hoops.
If I do make the trip to Iowa this summer I’ll either fish from shore or borrow a kayak.
Bryan Hansel
7 Jun, 2006
When I lived in Iowa, I never had to bring receipts into the recorders office with me. Must depend on the county. What you should do is get a MN sticker for your yak, because then you are exempt from having to put the numbers on your boat. MN also allows you just to hang the sticker from your decklines so you don’t have to mark up your yak.
I believe you can register your kayak in MN via mail or phone, but I’m not sure.
Anton
7 Jun, 2006
Thanks Bryan!
I was getting ready to research the easiest and least permanent state requirements. I know when I lived in Iowa that I saw some Hobie Cats with a piece of plexiglass, with numbers, hanging off the hull. They may have been from out of state though.
I might just have to continue an check all the states. Many of them don’t require any registration for human powered boats, regrdless of length. I’ll be sure to post a page here with the results once I get that project started.
If anyone knows of a site on the net that already has this info please let me know. Google has failed me here. The best I’ve found is dmv.org which links to all the states boating regulations.